“Son…” Richard Masters, his father, stepped into his path. The wry grin on his face perturbed Michael. This wasn’t funny. “I know it’s a dirt floor in the barn, but if you keep that up, I’m going to have to haul in a truckload of soil to fill in the divot.”
“Ha ha.” Michael brushed past his father and continued on his path.
“Can I make a suggestion?” His dad didn’t pause for a response. “Talk to her. Instead of facing this problem head on, you two are avoiding each other as though one of you has the plague.” He chuckled again. “Have you even said more than three words to each other since the afternoon you arrived?”
“No.” Michael paused. “What’s there to say, Dad? We’re mates, and she needs to get over the idea there’s another mate for her out there before she’ll be willing to commit to me. It’s pretty simple.”
“That is not simple, nor is it easy. And you aren’t helping out any by pacing around in here avoiding her.”
“Every time I get too close to her, my mouth dries out, and I freeze. I need her, Dad. Like I need sunlight and food and water.” Fuck. This was not the kind of conversation Michael wanted to have with his father. He was a grown man for crying out loud.
His dad lowered his voice and his tone when he continued. “I know, Michael. Trust me, I know. I commend you for being as calm as you have been. I couldn’t have gone two days like this with your mother when I met her.”
“TMI, Dad. Just … ew. Stop.”
Richard laughed. “It’s natural. It’s not a secret. It’s the way of wolves. Go to her. Let her get her feelings out. Women need that sort of thing. They need to express themselves. And this won’t be the last time. She’ll need you to listen to her occasionally for the rest of your life. And you need to man up and suffer through it.”
“Suffer?”
“Well, suffer isn’t really a fair word. I’ve never felt listening to your mother was a task. I love her more than my right arm, and I’m glad every day that I have her to listen to. The moment I can no longer hear her voice in my head, in my heart, and in my house will be the worst day of my life.
“The suffering I’m referring to is what you are experiencing right now before claiming her. It will be hard. I understand that. But you need to use your big head and open the communication lines between you and Alyssa. Now.”
“You’re right, of course.” Michael paused and stared out the barn door. As if he’d conjured her up, Alyssa’s car pulled up the driveway at that precise moment. She’d spent the morning at Kara’s, probably doing the same thing Michael was doing with his father. Getting advice.
Michael’s father didn’t say another word. In fact, he wasn’t even in sight any more. Michael glanced around and headed out into the cool morning air to meet his mate at her car.
“Hey.” He stopped a few feet away and watched as she climbed warily from the front seat. Michael stuffed his hands in his pockets and shuffled like a teenager in the gravel.
“Hi yourself,” she murmured as she shut the door. Her jeans hugged her to perfection, and he kept his gaze low, wondering how long it might take to peel them off her … if he had the opportunity.
“Can we go somewhere and talk?” He lifted his gaze to hers, her sky-blue eyes penetrating his soul.
“I was going to suggest the same thing.” She smiled, and her perfect white teeth sparkled at him. Her lips were so pink, even though he knew she didn’t wear lipstick. She barely wore any makeup at all. And she didn’t need it. Her skin was so smooth and perfect and unblemished it would be a shame to cover it with some girly powders and rouge.
The wind kicked up, and Alyssa hugged her coat tighter.
“Let’s go inside. It’s too cold out here.” Michael reached for her hand, and she placed hers in his palm. Sparks flew from one of them to the other and back, but Michael kept himself in check and pretended he didn’t notice.
He tugged her closer and headed for the back door. With any luck his parents would make themselves scarce for a while.
Thankfully, he was correct. Not a soul was in sight. He knew they were in the house, but they must have gone to their bedroom to give Michael and Alyssa privacy.
“Can we go to your room or something?” Alyssa looked around, a grimace on her face. “I feel like we’re putting everyone out lately.”
“Of course.” Did she not realize how dangerous that idea was?
He’d be lucky if he could avoid plastering her to the inside of the door the moment they entered and taking her against the wall.